The champions came closest five minutes from time when Ronaldo’s shot was deflected just wide and Ruud Van Nistelrooy shot over the bar from the resulting corner.

Paul Ince and Alex Rae both shot wide for Wolves from close-range while Mark Kennedy forced keeper Tim Howard to make an easy save.

United threatened without creating any clear chances although Van Nistelrooy’s 19th minute overhead kick landed on the roof of the net.

Two minutes later Paul Scholes flicked a header wide from Fletcher’s deep right-wing cross.

Wolves moved forward to little effect and needed another long-range Rae strike in the 28th minute which United keeper Tim Howard held comfortably.

Wolves keeper Michael Oakes almost gifted United the lead on the half hour when he failed to hold Ronaldo’s right-wing cross and eventually scrambled the ball clear under pressure from Keane.

Five minutes from the break Ronaldo’s shot in the box was flicked wide and from the resulting corner Van Nistelrooy fired over from close range.

Quinton Fortune’s free-kick from the right was parried behind by Oakes under pressure from Van Nistelrooy in first half injury time.